This Saturday, the Spanish basketball team asserted itself at home with clear intent against the Netherlands, fighting through a rough opening to secure a decisive victory on the path to the 2023 World Cup. Leading the group with a scoreline of 64-86, Spain showcased composure and focus, laying down a solid foundation for the European season ahead.
Calendar had arranged a final warm-up before EuroBasket, a match not the most demanding on paper, yet the official setting demanded a clean performance and a positive emotional tone to arrive ready for the continental event.
Despite the setup, Spain started slowly, finding it tough to find rhythm from the floor. The Dutch were quicker to exploit openings, while Spain’s initial burst mainly came from a strong defensive stance that eventually sparked their offense. Early on, the Dutch jumped to a 15-4 lead, and Spain spent the first five minutes looking for a spark to respond to the challenge presented by their visitors.
Netherlands’ standout performers delivered with energy, and the home side needed a measured response. A timeout from the Spanish coach helped regroup the team, and Rudy Fernández steadied the ship, calming nerves and lifting the tempo to 20-15 as the period progressed.
Spain gained momentum in the second period, turning the tide with a well-executed 5-0 run that signaled a shift in momentum. The foreign-born Lorenzo Brown contributed with timely scoring, serving as a warning of what was to come. The Dutch answered hard, but Spain’s perimeter shooters began to find rhythm. Two consecutive triples from Xavi López-Arostegui and Dario Brizuela, followed by a basket from Guerra, put the Spaniards ahead 28-32. Juancho Hernangómez and Jaime Fernández added further baskets from outside, and Spain closed the half with an eight-point cushion at 32-40.
Following the halftime break, the dynamics shifted again as the Dutch tried to narrow the gap, but Spain countered with disciplined execution. A 7-0 start at the third-quarter change sealed a late attack from Brown, yet the home side maintained a steady advantage. Brizuela delivered another pair of three-pointers in quick succession, widening the margin to eighteen points before the final period.
The game settled into a controlled rhythm after the early flurry, as Spain tightened its defense and pressed the pace where advantageous. The final stretch saw the team stretch its lead with an 8-0 burst, reaffirming their control over the proceedings. With the result decided, Spain’s principal objective was not only the win but also to refine the interplay among international players in preparation for the World Cup and the EuroBasket tournament that follows the break. The schedule pointed to Bulgaria as the opening challenge in September, a prospect that will test the team’s cohesion and form in a different competitive context.
Data sheet
64 – Netherlands (24+8+18+14): Van Der Vuurst De Vries (8), De Jong (11), Olaf Schaftenaar (6), Coke (16), Kloof (8) -five starts-, Haarms (2), Hammink (3), Roeland Schaftenaar (6), Williams (4).
86 – Spain (17+23+28+18): Brown (11), Pradilla (4), Juancho Hernangómez (5), López-Arostegui (9), Willy Hernangómez (10) -five marches-, Rudy Fernández (9), Jaime Fernández (5), Sebas Saiz (4), Garuba (10), Parra (2), Guerra (4), Brizuela (13).
referees: Yener Yılmaz (TUR), Erez Gurion (ISR) and Darius Zapolsko (POL). The match took place in Almere, Poland, with approximately 3,000 spectators in attendance for the World Championship qualifying contest.
Events: The 2023 World Championship qualifying match was hosted at the Topsportcentrum in Almere, Netherlands, offering a spectacle that balanced competition with preparation for the decisive events ahead.